What is too young for me to teach my son to fly fish? I was reading about the Team Usa Youth team and lots of them started young like 5-6 my son is 5 now and loves fishing with his spider man rod that I was thinking I could show him how to use the whippy stick. So I thought i would ask the experts here.

I was 9 or 10 when I started to learn - took me a while to Really get into it, but that was because I was the only one in my immediate family that fished with a bug flinger. I suggest that just like any exacting pursuit, the earlier one gets started with flyfishing the better off they are. Try to weed out those bad habits early

what about the size rod I have a 6'6" fiberglass eagle claw I was going to let him use whatdaya think?

You know TFO is coming out with a childrens rod!!! The price is suppose to be pretty reasonable like all TFO. Get him started early like Wader-Noob said get those bad habits out of the way early.

It would be hard to put a number on the age thing. Depends mostly on the kiddo. The attention span thing ya know. Just don't force it on him/her or they'll drop that thing like a manual typewriter

Agreed 110%, I take my son when he wants & we only fish for what he wants & we leave when he wants to, He's 13 and much more mature about it now but still not crazy about it so I don't push it..my Dad was a Golf nut & woke me up early every Saturday for the privilege of carrying his clubs, I now hate hate golf with a passion.

I will add that success is important, it fuels desire and size doesn't matter much at all (when your little they're all big fish) and have lots of fun...thats important...you take all responsibility for equipment and remember his fishing experience is far more important that yours...it may be difficult for you to fish at the same time and if so you should help him but also allow him to do as much as he's comfortable with, teach him what he's curious about which may not be what you think is important...and most the most important thing is be patient... good luck, fishing with your kids is a priceless way to spend time.

The one and most important thing to remember about fishing with children is YOU WILL NOT FISH! I found out this fact 10 min. into my 1st fishing trip with mine. As soon as I got home I called my dad and thanked him for the hours of patience,guidance, and encouragement. Just remember it is all about them, and you are the coach at this point not the partner. Later on if all or any of your children take up the sport then you will have a partner. Of my 3(21,23,25) only one gets real excited about going. Other 2 will fish with dad, but I have to put them on fish soon or they are ready to move on to other activities. Not everyone is into fishing(strange I know), but that is how it is. I would say to start youngsters out with the roll cast till it is mastered. My grandson is now 2y/o so I will be making this choice soon as to when to start him .

I've heard Al Crise answer this question with another question, "can he pick up a gallon of milk and pour himself a glass of milk?" If he can, then he has enough strength and co-ordination to cast a fly rod. This sounds like a reasonable guide to me.

My daughter started at 11 with a casting lesson from someone other than me. At 12, we took one of Al's casting clinics together. Starting her off with lessons from good instructors was was one of the best moves I've ever made. It must have worked becasue she became a certified casting instructor at 15.

Good luck. Getting to fish with your own kids is a great experience. Also, I have been amazed at how many fly fishers are willing to help a kid learn to fly fish, cast, catch a fish, and tie a fly.

Have fun,
Rex

In my opinion this may be the best advice yet offered - it takes the pressure off of you as the instructor, so the inevitable occasions of frustration and friction are not directed at you and you can be a supporting character. Plus, who doesn't need a little constructive criticism on their casting? I would love to go through a casting clinic with my dad, even now. It would be a great bonding time, IMO. Approached with caution and not driving the young man to excess (as with BAB's unfortunate experience) will allow him to indicate whether he's diggin' the whippy stick or would be happier just hanging out with his friends.

I will of course cross my fingers with you that he will join us in the madness

it does depend on the child. taking a page from golfing with kids, don't instruct them unless they request. when i take my oldest daughter(5) to the driving range we both hit balls at the same time. I'll stop and watch her every time she asks me to or help her tee up the ball if she needs, but i don't instruct her on how to hit. I just watch and enjoy, unless she asks or gets frustrated. If she gets frustrated i'll ask her to tee up my golf balls. she'll sit by me and put a new ball on the tee after i hit. she enjoys it.

to correlate it to flyfishing: i would say take them and don't "teach" at them or to them. Granted a fly has a hook and can injure the child so practice with yarn or cut a hook off a fly and go hookless. just let them pick stuff up on their own. teach only when asked. at least at my child's early age. and if they get frustrated or bored let them help you. my daughter always stands at the ready on my left hip(i'm a righty caster) and strips in the line. we have caught several fish together.

also, almost guaranty that they will catch or at least get bites on their fly. small creeks with bluegills and other sunfish will hit the little poppers ALL DAY LONG. And if you get frustrated walk away and be done for a while.

Listen to Fly and the others. Some kids are ready at 5 or 6 and some are still far too young at 25 or 30. Let the kid tell you. I am not sure how old you need to be when you try to teach him.

When it looks like he is having fun with it, then as soon as you can, get him a good teacher that enjoys working with kids. Al Crise has a special gift of working well with kids. Some other kids learn better from someone younger. I would suggest getting Rex's daughter Taylor to give him some lessons. Most of all just be sure to do all you can to let him have as much fun as possible.

I think you have the right length rod in mind. I gave a 6.5 foot Fisher rod to a friend's daughter when she was 8 years old, but she had been fly fishing for a couple of years. Now at 16 she is still using that rod. I think 6.5 to 7 foot rods are perfect for kids. I think TFO's new Bug Launcher in the lighter weight would be the perfect rod for a kid who has learned to enjoy flyfishing.

Big Dale

wow thank guys the milk thing is an eye opener for sure and anything Ol al suggests I will listen to, thanks for all the advice we are going today to fish he uses his spiderman baitcaster rod now and says "i can do it myself dad" and for the most part he can, i have to help him with the cast every so often just for distance more than anything else and my daughter is 3 and she wants to go today too, wow I guess I am lucky that my kids take an interest in what I do for fun, I usually dont fish when we go and normally dont even bring my rod, I think I will start bringing my rod and casting once when they are done so as to let them see what the difference is.....heres to hoping I have at least one fishing partner for life.

It�s all about the fish � not about the fishin� pole.
Don�t care whether it�s an adult or a child � the pole don�t matter�!

I raised 3 sons that are all avid outdoorsmen � hunters and fishermen.
You gotta get in birds to learn to be a good bird shot.

Ya gotta get em into fish to learn how much fun it is to catch a fish, to play with a fish - to learn to clean a fish � to learn where the fish live � what they eat � enuf already about castin a fly rod.

Let a kid have a cane pole and a can of worms � snoopy rod � whatever � then if they have had fun and use dad�s flyrod and see how much fun it is to catch a fish - then it�s time to teach fly casting.

I do not agree on putting the cart before the horse.
Ridculous to start a kid flyfishing with a pro instructor.

My rant for the day � pardon.

George,

I understand where you are coming from but the way i look at it because I dont really use conventional tackle that I would want to pass something to my child that I actually know about, flyfishing is one of them. If I was a bird hunter but I used a slingshot instead of a gun am I going to give my kid a gun because its easier? no I probably will not I will teach him what I know first and let him decide. I think the same goes with fishing. When we fish now he gets woolly buggers tied to his line instead of anything else.